John ellwood lee



(No Model.)

, B. LEE.

SURGICAL DRAINAGE TUBE. No. 399,540. Pqtented Mar. 12, 1889.

'PiClZEI.

WITNESSES: A Q INVENTOR- 6 9 W. A,

M Arm/mus N "YER; mmm nc. Imam n C.

NiTn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN EIIIAYOOI) LEE, ()1? (ONSllOllOCKEXZ PENNSYIIYAXIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE J. ICIIIAVOOI) LEE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SURGICAL DRAINAGE-TUBE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,540, dated March 12, 1889.

h'lyinvention consists of an llll'pltwtltl draini age-tube for surgical use in d rainingabseesses, tumors, and similar growths or internal wounds from which secretions, blood, or other matters have to be drained. These drainagetubes as usually made are either of hard or soft rubber or of glass, some with openings in the sides and some without. Some are provided wit h openin at the top for the passage through them of sat'etyiins or other devices to prevent the tubes from slipping down in 1 the wound or opening through which drainage 1 i coils at the desired points, as indicated at d is taking place, while other tubes, especially where made of glass, have a lip or flange. at the top. The rubber tubes carry with them the ol'ijection that they are t'lit'niailt to clean and purit'yatter they have once been used,so that in the majority of cases they have to be burned or thrown away after use. If soft rubber is employed, the tube is apt to collapse in the wound. Glass drz'tinage-tnbcs are fragile and are apt to get broken, and cannot in some cases be used, owing to their rigidity. To meet these varied ditlicultiies and requirements, I make my drainage-tubes of closelycoiled wire, hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawil'igs, Figure 1 is a side view of one of my improved drainagetubes. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same tube with a portion of the coil opened up. Fig. 3 is a view of one of my improved tubes with the coils opened at. several points. Fig. 4 is a view of one of my improved tubes, showinghowit maybe flexed; and l. ig.5 is an end view of the tube Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invention I form a tube out of wire of any suitable metal by closely coiling the wire around a suitable mandrel until a tube of the desired length is obtained. The wire may have a tin,niekel, or other snit- (No model.)

Serial No. 231,732.

able coating it iron or steel be used for the bodyol' the wire. One end of the coiled-wire tube A thus formed is then dipped into solder to the depth 01:, say, a dozen spirals, so as to unite these spirals together to make a solid tubular head, (I, for the tube. The top coil at the head is bent up at right angles to form a loop, I), [or the reception of the safety-pin or other device which is to be used to support the tube. The tube thus produced forms a very desirable surgical drainage-tube, which, being more or less flexible, and yet not collapsible, can be easily inserted into the wound. It is even capable of turning a corner where required, as will be understood on reference to Fig. 4.. \Vherc it is desired to admit the secretions through the side walls of the tube, openings tor the purpose can be readily produced by simply stretching the in Figs-2 and I}.

The tube described, being of metal, can easily be cleaned after use and be employed again without any danger to the patient. It a short tube is desired, it is a very easy matter to cut down one of the longer ones by clipping ott' some of the coils with a pair of nippers.

I claim as my invention 1. A surgical drainage-tube of coiled wire, substantially as described.

A surgical drainage-tube of coiled wire, having the top coil bent up to form a loop.

3. A surgical drainage-tube ot coiled wire, with the coils at one end soldered together into a solid tube.

at. A surgical drainage'tube of closely-coiled wire, but having some of the coils stretched apart, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this SpCUlfiCHllOD in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

.I. ELIAVOOD LEE.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. A. CRANE, JoHN REvELL. 

